wind farms

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $4.2 million grant to the University of Wyoming for wind energy research.

Six different University departments will collaborate on the project.

UW professor Jonathan Naughton is the director of the Wind Energy Research Center and the principal investigator for the grant. He says the goal is to address barriers to rolling out renewable energy in the state—and research will focus on three key aspects.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Supreme Court has upheld permits issued by the state and Converse County allowing construction of two wind farms in the Laramie Range.

Wasatch Wind of Salt Lake City plans to construct 62 towers at two locations. The Northern Laramie Range Alliance had challenged permits issued to the company by the Converse County Board of County Commissioners and Wyoming Industrial Siting Council.

A statement from the Northern Laramie Range Alliance says it still intends try to block construction of the wind farms.

Federal prosecutors say three peoplebilked $3.7 million from investors by claiming to develop windfarms in Wyoming and South Dakota. The projects never were built. A federal indictment filed in Cheyenne says phone solicitorsmade cold calls to investors nationwide, telling them the windfarms were being built by a private firm and the U.S. government. Utah residents Robert Reed and Lauren Scott and Californiaresident Christopher Ponish have pleaded not guilty to felony fraud

An Aide to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, warned Wyoming government and industry officials yesterday (Tuesday) about the impact of expiring incentives for renewable energy projects.

Steve Black spoke at a meeting of the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority in Jackson. He said both a grant program and a loan guarantee program for renewables have already expired. He adds that a tax credit that encourages wind projects is due to expire this year. Black says now is not the time to tax an industry that's just getting off the ground.